Multiple circuit stand lamp



P 1943- P, L. BRATTAIN 2,449,765

MULTIPLE CIRCUIT STAND v LAMP Filed Jan. 2, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

' ,Paul L- Braiiain fl TTOENEY- Patented Sept. 21 194 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 2,449,765. MULTIPLE .cIR'cm'rsrANDfLAMPfl P8111] Ltnififlain, Misha: Calif. I Application January 2, 1945 Serial No. 5 '7L08 4 This invention relates difierent lighting. units are controlled by separate" switches which usually are concealed beneatlr the canopy of the lightandwhich must be manipulated at different places.

selectively operate them. Sometimes thismakes it necessary for the operator to stand in order the.

close and open the switches. This" is an incon venience, particularly if the operator has been seated, and it is desirable, therefore; to provide* a light structure of the pedestal type'f'in whieh the switch is constructed in a manner tube: easily" operated by grasping. the standard ot'the lig'ht and manipulating the various light switches-se lectively. It is the principal objectofthe present invention, therefore, to provide an electric lamp of the pedestal type embodying a plurality or lighting units and separate electric circultswhio'h may be separately and. selectively manipulated bythe movement of one element; such fo'r e'ita'iiible the Jig-H6 units are as the standard uponwhic supported.

The present invention contemplates the ro-- vision of a base resting on a desired supportand carrying a standard at theupper'endof which a .plurality of light units are mounted, said light units having separate circuits and switches there-- for which may be selectively controlled bym'dve ment of the standard, either to'selectively open or close the electric circuits to theva'rious' un-its";

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in' which:

Figure 1 is. a view in central vertical section showing a form of the present invention andin' cating the relation of the operating mechanism or a multiple circuit pedestal lamp. Fig. 2"is an enlarged fragmentary view in central vertical section showing the detai-lsof -c'ori-" struction of the switch mechanism of the lamp;- I

Fig. 3 is a view in transverse section asseen on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and sho'w's the ratchet operating mechanism for the switch.-

Fig. 4 is a View in transverse section asseenon the..line4'-x4' of" Fig. 2' and shows tne avrangeto lighting equipment, and particularly pertains to av multiple circuit" These switches make it necessary for theoperatorto reach to themand by y or example l'laiiii. ((11. 200-8) 2 rr'ient of' the switch segments controlling the upper light units.

Fig; 5 is a'view in transverse section as seen onthe line 5-5 of Fig. 2 showing the switch segments controlling the lower light units.

6 is a wiring diagram indicating the lightingicircuits' and switches for thedifferent lighting units.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, lll"indicate's the base of a light structure with which the present invention is concerned. It is understood that this pedestal lamp may be of a height such'as employed in a table lamp, or may be'of a; greater" height to form a fl'oor lamp. In either event the lighting units may be the same andithe' controlling switches may be arranged in th'e"1s'a'n'ie manner. The base, as here shown, is convex in' shape having a flat portion resting upon'the" floor or other" support, and is formed with a'ihub II which is disposed'centrally of the topcf the base HI and has a threaded bore I2 to receive the lower end of a fixed central standard I3; The lo'w'erthreaded end of the standard receives a lock" nut M. The standard is tubular and thus will provide a conduit for electric conductbrs tobe hereinafter described. Mounted upon the verticallyv disposed standard i3 is a switch" control" sleeve" 15; The switch control sleeve forms-a housing for the lamp column and is rotatably supported thereon by guides or bearings' l6, whichmake it possible for the sleeve to be easily rotatedaround the standard. This rotatl'orial movement is for the purposeof operating a in'ultiple control switch l'l. It should be explained that the lamp may be provided with lighting'units iii-the base l0 and also adjacent the upper end of the standard 13. If desired, the

sleeve [5 may be formed inupper and lower sections, and"the switch I1 may be also formed in two-sections, one-for each section of the'sleeve so that the' cir'cuits oftheupper lighting units will be" controlled-by rotation-of the upper'sleeve length, and circuits of the' lower lighting units will meant-routebythelower sleeve length. For

the purpose" of convenience in disclosing the presentlnvention; this form of 'structureis not shown in the drawingst but a switch unit is provided as generally ind-icated at IT, and which unit embodies' uppe'r and lower switch sections which may -be selectivelymanipulated bythe rotation of the one-plecej'sleeve-H'; Fixed atthe upper end; of the standarjd I 3 is a reflector" or shade I8,'Wh1'ch is'here' shownasbeing' directed with its open end upwardlyso that indirect illumination will be provided; Mounted directly upon the upper end of the standard I3 is an electric light socket I9 carrying an electric light bulb 20. Mounted within the shade is a plurality of electric light sockets 2| carrying electric light bulbs 22 which may be used for reading purposes. The plurality of light bulbs 22 are provided so that one or more may be illuminated as desired. A separate reflector l8 may be mounted around the flood-light bulb 20 to direct the light rays from this bulb upwardly so that when the light bulbs 22 are not illuminated the lighting will be indirect.

Mounted upon the lower end of the standard I3 is a light socket 23 carrying a light bulb 24. It is common practice to make all or portions of the base ID of a translucent material so that the base may be illuminated when the electric circuit through the light bulb 24 is closed. The various electric light circuits for units will be described in detail hereinafter.

Referring to Fi 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that the switch unit comprises an outer housing formed of a top wall 25 and a circumscribing side wall 26. The side wall 26 is preferably cylindrical and is closed at its lower end with a plate 21 removably held in position by screws 28. The housing is preferably made of dielectric material and has a wall thickness sufficient to accommodate the different electric conduits to be hereinafter described. The upper end wall of the switch housing carries binding posts 29 for the different conductors, as will be hereinafter described. The side wall of the housing is formed with a series of passageways 36 to receive the conductors leading from the binding posts 29 to contact fingers.

The standard I3 is provided with a threaded section 34 which receives a threaded lower collar 35, a threaded intermediate collar 36, and a threaded top collar 31. The collar 35 fits within the upper end of the sleeve l and provides an upper end face against which a shoulder 38 rests. The shoulder 38 is formed as a part of a ratchet disc 39 which is fastened to the upper end of the sleeve l5 and which rotates with the sleeve l5. The ratchet disc 39 carries an upper ratchet pawl 45 and a lower ratchet pawl 4|. These pawls are disposed to operate in opposite directions and are yieldably held in their outermost positions by suitable springs. A shoulder 42 occurs on the upper face of the disc 39 and is engaged by the lower face of the threaded sleeve 36. It will thus be seen that the sleeves 35 and 36 limit the longitudinal movement of the sleeve |5 upon the standard I3, and at the same time permits the sleeve l5 to rotate with relation to the standard and the switch unit H. The threaded collar 31 rests with its lower face against the upper face of the end wall 25 of the switch housing.

Mounted to rotate around the portion of the sleeve l5 which occurs between the ratchet plate 39 and the plate 21 of the switch housing is a switch rotor 43. This rotor may be made of a dielectric material, such as Bakelite for example, and may carry any desired number of electrical contact plates, although as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing it is fitted with metal contact segments 44, 45, 45', 46 and 41. The intermediate segments of the cylindrical surface of the rotor are formed by the dielectric material and thus provide an interval of rotation of the rotor during which electric contacts will not be made. Secured to the wall 26 of the switch housing are a plurality of contact fingers, here indicated as being four in number. These contact fingers are disposed at a contact station at a point along the inner cirthe diiferent lighting cumference of the switch wall 25 and are positioned at difierent levels. A contact finger 48 is designed to register with the segments 44, 45, 46 and 41. A contact finger 49 is designed to register with the segments 44, 46 and 41. A contact finger 5D is designed to register with the segments 45, 46 and 41, and a contact finger 5| is designed to register with the segment 41. A feed wire 54 is attached to contact finger 48 and to a wire 55 leading to a source of electric energy 56.

The contact finger 49 is provided with a conductor 51 which leads to one side of a reading lamp 22a. The opposite side of this lamp is connected by a conductor 58 to feed wire 59, which is connected to the source of electric energy 56. Contact finger 50 is provided with a conductor 60 connected to one side of a light bulb 22b. The

opposite side of this bulb is connected with the feed wire 59 by a conductor 6|. The contact finger 5| is provided with a conductor 66 connected to one side of an electric light bulb 220. The opposite side of this bulb is provided with a conductor 6'! connecting with the feed wire 59. In alignment with the segment 45 is the segment 45, which is at the same level as the contact finger 48. These are connected by a conductor 62.

It should also be pointed out that the non-conducting segment of the rotor 43 which occurs circumferentially between the contact segments will insure that the electric circuits of the various light combinations may be completely interrupted at two places between any two segments without making it necessary to pass through the entire cycle of operation of the rotor 43. It should also be mentioned that the ratchet teeth carried by the members 10 and H extend along complete circles concentric with the axis of the standard |3 and engageable by the complementary pawls 40 and 4|. These teeth are spaced so that the pawls will engage them at appropriate points to insure that rotation of the ratchet disc 39 in one direction will move one of the rotors so that the contact fingers for that rotor will either be in a position to engage a contact segment on the rotor or be disposed in engagement with the dielectric material occurring between contact segments. This insures that when the rotor is moved in either direction it will immediately cause a circuit to be completed without making it necessary for the rotor to be moved through a complete cycle of rotation before initiating movement of the switch mechanism.

The rotor 43 is provided with a ratchet plate Hi which has teeth to be engaged by the ratchet pawl 4| carried by the plate '39. These teeth are formed so that their engaging shoulders are all disposed in the same direction. .Thus, travel of the ratchet pawl in a direction counter to the face of the teeth will cause the rotor 43 to be revolved when the sleeve I5 is rotated in a similar direction. If the sleeve I5 is rotated in a counter direction it is obvious that the rotor 43 will be inactive, and this action may be brought about without disturbing any electric circuits which have been made or broken by registration of segments on the rotor 43 with contactfingers carried by the housing.

Disposed above the plate 39 is a rotor H of a switch unit. The rotor 'H is fitted with a ratchet wheelor disc 12 havin teeth which are engaged by the ratchet pawl 40. The abutting faces of theteeth on the disc 12 are opposite from the faces on the teeth of the disc 10 which is a part of the rotor 43. This arrangement is so that rotation of the sleeve I5 in one direction will rotate the rotor 43 while counter-rotation will rotate the rotor H and permit-the otherrotor to stand motionless. Mounted inthe circumferential face of the upper switch rotor ll maybe any desired number of contact segments. However, in the present instancethis-switchc'ontrols a multiple filamentrfiood-light 20, here shown as involving three: electric circuits and thegfioor light '24r It is to be understood that other electricv circuits might: Ice-controlled by thisstructure,;although not shown in the drawings. The rotor 7| is therefore fitted with contact segments 73, 14 and 74', 15, T6 and 16, which are spaced circumferentially around the surface of rotor H.

Secured to the side wall 26 and within the housing are spring contact fingers l1, l8, l9 and 80. The contact finger 71 is connected to the lead 'wire 55 by a conductor Bi, and thus acts as a distributor for a current from one side of the source of electric energy 56. The contact 18 is at a level to be engaged by the switch segments 13 and 15. The [contact finger 19 is at a level to engage the switch segments 14 and 15, and the contact finger 8!] is at a level to engage the switch segment iii. The segments 74 and T4 are connected by a conductor 82, and the segments l and 76' are connected by a conductor 83. It is to be understood that the connecting conductors 62, 82 and 83 are suitably imbedded or concealed in the wall of the rotor so that the contact fingers will not engage them. The contact finger I8 is connected to a conductor 84 leading to a filament 85 of the multiple filament flood-light 20. The opposite side of this filament is connected to a conductor 86 secured to a filament 88 of the flood-light 2B. The opposite side of this filament (is provided with a conductor 89 connected with the wire 86. The contact finger 80 is provided with a conductor 90 connected with the base light 24. The opposite side of this light is provided with a conductor 9| connected with the wire 86.

As previously explained, it is intended to control the switch rotors by rotation of the sleeve l5 upon the standard I 3. In order to properly support the sleeve anti-friction bearings 92 are mounted upon the standard [3 and carry the sleeve so that it will rotate freely.

In operation of the present invention the lamp is assembled as particularly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, although it is to be understood that any desired lamp combination may be used, and that appropriate changes in the parts of the switches could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. By reference to the wining diagram it will be recognized that when the switch rotors in and ll stand so that the contact fingers are between and out of contact with contact segments on the rotors the electric circuits will be broken at two points. When it is desired to establish a circuit through one of the lamps the sleeve i5 is appropriately rotated, assuming that rotation of the sleeve in a clockwise direction will cause the dog 4! to engage the ratchet teeth on the rotor 10. The switch segment 44 will move in contact with the fingers 48 and 49, thus establishing a circuit through the electric light bulb 22a. Further rotation of the rotor ill will bring the finger 50 into contact with segment 45, and finger 48 into contact with segment 45. Thus, an electric circuit will be completed through the electric light bulb 22b. This bulb is of greater candle power than the bulb 22a. Further rotation of the rotor will bring. contact. fingers (48, 49 and-51h into 3 contact with; the segment; 45.1 This i will? zactsstorillumif nate-i both; the: bulbs 22a; and 221i: the rotor lfl'zis-nmoyed to bring theoontactt segment 41Qint'o contact; with the finger 4& it. will: also register; with. theafingersw 419'; 'iii);- andi dl and will thus simultaneously illuminate allnthree; Off-the lightbulbs 22a; Z'Zb'and 22c: I l Whemthe 51663 811ifiS IZGVOIVGd in the'opposite direction its dog 40: williengage' the :natchet teeth on therdiscof the: rotor H. This will move the switch segment 13 into contact with the fingers i7 and 18 and will establish an electric circuit through filament 85 of the lamp 20. Continued rotation of the rotor 1| will cause the fingers I1 and 19 to engage the switch segments 14 and 14'. This will establish a circuit through the filament 88 of the lamp 20. When the rotor H is further moved contact fingers 11, I8 and 19 will engage the switch segment 15, and thus the fitaments 85 and 88 will be simultaneously energized. When the rotor H is rotated further the contact finger 11' will engage the segment 16 and the contact finger will engage the segment 16. This will establish an electric circuit through the base lamp 24.

It will thus been seen that the invention here disclosed provides a simple and compact switch and stand lamp construction in which a plurality of electric circuits may be separately and optionallly opened and closed by the manipulation of one control member which may be easily reached and operated, since it is an integral part of the entire supporting column of the lamp.

It will be recognized that while the present invention has been shown as controlling the electric circuits of specifically designated electric units, it will be understood that this type of switch may be used to control a large number of independent electric circuits, part of them being opened and closed when the switch is rotated in one direction, and part of them opened and closed when the switch is rotated in the opposite direction.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention as now known to me, it will be understood that various changes may be made in combination, construction and arrangement of parts by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of my invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A rotary multiple circuit switch comprising a housing, a rotatable member extending axially thereof, a disc fixed upon the rotatable member within the housing, a pawll carried by said disc and projecting above the upper face thereof, a pawl carried by said disc and projecting from the Llower face thereof, l8, pair of rotors, one disposed on each side of said disc and freely rotatable around the axis thereof, a continuous circular row of ratchet teeth projecting from the opposed faces of said rotors, one set of teeth to be engaged by the upwardly projecting pawl, and the other set of teeth to be engaged by the lower projecting pawl, teeth and pawls being faced in opposite directions, and providing for movement of the rotors a desired increment of rotation in opposite directions, a

tors, the contact segments on each of the rotors being separated from each other by intermediate The following references are of record in the nnr'ennncns CITED file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Apple Mar. 30, 1915 Morse June 25, 1929 Belcher Nov. 15, 193B 

